Gujarat has decided to pay farmers the new ‘jantri' rate as compensation, plus 30 per cent additional solace, for their land coming under the Narmada canal command area, as per the government's latest attractive policy for converting agricultural land into non-agricultural purposes, the spokespersons-ministers Jay Narayan Vyas and Saurabh Patel said here today.
Accordingly, 86,132 farmers will get Rs.1,270-crore for their 21,671 ha land coming under the Narmada command area in eight districts, as against Rs.500-crore calculated earlier as per the old ‘jantri' rate. Now, the government would bear the additional cost of Rs.770-crore.
The eight districts are Ahmedabad, Surendranagar, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Kutch, Banaskantha, Patan and Mehsana.
The ministers said that so far about 10,183 ha agricultural land has been acquired from 55,395 farmers for the purpose, and they would get the balance of the new ‘jantri' rate.
The ministers said that it became possible because of Chief Minister Narendra Modi's bold decision to ensure the farmers losing their land get adequate compensation as revised ‘jantri' rates.
The details of the policy were worked out by a Group of Ministers, comprising Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel, Water Resource Minister Nitinbhai Patel and Minister of State for Finance Saurabh Patel.
The government has allocated Rs.6,835-crore for the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNL) with a view to completing the multipurpose project early.
